Crime

‘I Was Referring to Myself’: James Holmes’ Mother Alleges Another ABC Reporting Mistake

It seems that ABC News cannot catch a break in their reporting on the shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Now, on top of their unsubstantiated speculation that the shooter, James Holmes, may have had ties to the Tea Party, the mother of suspected gunman James Holmes says the network misquoted her on the morning of the shooting.

Readers who have been following the story will recall how most major news sources reported that Holmes’ mother, Arlene, had said “You have the right person” when asked about suspected shooter James Holmes. The implication was that Holmes’ mother had known, almost prima facie, that her son was the shooter.

It’s a tragic story. But Monday, Arlene Holmes’s attorney took to a podium to allege that, in fact, she had not meant to refer to her son, but instead to herself, with the statement of “you have the right person.” As to whether that James Holmes was the shooter, Mrs. Holmes said she refused to offer comment that he was “the right person” since she wasn’t even sure it was her son. Watch part of Holmes’s statement below (via her attorney):

Partial transcript follows, courtesy of Politico:

This statement is to clarify a statement made by ABC media. I was awakened by a call from a reporter by ABC on July 20 about 5:45 in the morning. I did not know anything about a shooting in Aurora at that time.[....]

He asked if I was Arlene Holmes and if my son was James Holmes who lives in Aurora, Colorado. I answered yes, you have the right person. I was referring to myself.[...]

He asked for a comment. I told him I could not comment because I did not know if the person he was talking about was my son, and I would need to find out.

Now, obviously it is possible that the reporter misheard Ms. Holmes’ statement over the phone. It could even be that she is changing her tone to help her son’s defense (it doesn’t bode well if she immediately knew her son was capable of something so horrific). However, given that the reporter asked for a statement, and didn’t get one, the story is suspicious at bare minimum. And if it was a mistake by ABC, it is certainly poor form to fabricate a story out of an innocuous quote, and might make one wonder about ABC’s standards, especially given their existing pattern of leaping to conclusions regarding this story.

Do you still trust ABC? Weigh in below.

This story has been updated with additional information.

UPDATE:

According to Mediaite, ABC is standing by its report and that producer Matthew Mosk explained the conversation:

Mosk said today that he awoke Arlene Holmes and informed her that a man, he believed was her son had been arrested in Aurora and asked to confirm their relationship.

“You have to tell me what happened… You have to tell me what happened,” the woman on the phone said, according to Mosk. Mosk said he told her that ABC News had learned the 24-year-old had been identified by police as the lone suspect in the mass killing in Aurora, Colo and that the details of the events were still taking shape.

“You have the right person,” was her response, he said. “I need to call the police. I need to fly to Colorado.”

ABC’s report on the issue also says that the family’s attorney called ABC shortly before the press conference to ask if they recorded the phone call:

Just prior to the press conference, Damiani contacted ABC News to determine whether there existed a recording of the pre-dawn conversation between Mosk and her client, according to Mosk.

One hour after learning there was no audio recording, Damiani held the conference and read Arlene Holmes’ statement.

Comments (100)

1 2 3
  • korbin
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:21pm

    A another
    B arrack
    C ampain

    Report Post »  
    • fastfacts
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 8:21pm

      MORE MEDIA MALPRACTICE… HOW CAN THEY BE SO BLATANT???

      No one can question MSNBC being in the pocket of Obama, have you seen them jump all over themselves to defend the president on his anti-business comments: http://www.thedailycandidate.com/video/2012/july/msnbc_defends_obama.html .

      Yeah this is the same guy that is suppose to be restoring our economy to early Bush era successes. NOT LIKELY….

      Report Post »  
    • BigJohnT
      Posted on July 24, 2012 at 7:12pm

      All your comments are useless. You add nothing to this forum.

      Report Post » BigJohnT  
    • slkgej6
      Posted on July 25, 2012 at 12:22am

      So ABC News got it wrong again? Big surprise there. There is no longer any journalistic standard there. It’s ok to say that the guy is a Tea Party apparatchik and point to a webpage from the Tea Party with a guy named James Holmes. It would have been REALLY hard to confirm that this was the right James Holmes, after all. Like, actually reading the page or looking up the picture of the guy or actually asking someone. Who cares if they get it wrong, after all. So what if they incite public violence on some innocent guy and his family. After all, he IS a member of the Tea Party, so he probably SHOULD be killed, right? Now, rather than actually tell the truth, they make up another story about what his mother said, painting her as culpable because she KNEW he was going to commit mass murder. It‘s ALWAYS the mom’s fault, right? Since I can verify either of these stories with a few clicks, this is apparently too much to expect from ABC News. Their behavior is shameful. I’m so sick of these wackos. Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks releases the personal information of a man he claims framed Anthony Weiner. Next day, Anthony Weiner admits lying. He probably endangered the man’s family and ruined his life. Who cares? After all, the guy’s not a liberal, so his family DESERVES to die, right Cenk? After all, no apology, no admission of guilt? Nope. He couldn’t care less. The end justifies the means so why not just make up the news when the truth is boring or makes you look bad?

      Report Post »  
  • Mike Benton
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:05pm

    A- always
    B- behaving
    C- carelessly

    Report Post » Mike Benton  
  • SERUM
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:04pm

    A lways
    B ullschitn
    C itizens

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:02pm

    I’m not a litigious person but, the only thing that will/might put a stop to these reporters in a major law suit for some really big bucks. And mean some really big bucks…. IMHO.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:05pm

      Edit;

      ‘is“ not ”in”….

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • lwillis59
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:08pm

      so I wonder… do you think that the 3 alphabet networks have each others back? If it isn’t about ratings then it is more idiology ( if it was ratings, the other 3 networks would be all over ABC’s irresponsible “journalism”) so it must be that they all remain silent when it comes to the truth irregardless to where you work ( unless you work at FOX) for the sake of Ideology..I have always thought that the truth would come out if for no other reason than ratings..NOT! proof that they have an agenda, and it isn’t the truth.

      Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:24pm

      @lwillis59

      I don’t think that it is “they each others back” as much as it is they are paid by the person/group and are told what to say. And yes, I’m talking about George Soros, his many affiliations such as the Apollo Alliance, the Tides Foundation and others as well as Maurice Strong and his UN and Chinese connections.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
  • WisdomZurs
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:59pm

    ABC can do all the editing they want to, but one thing is for sure… they can’t edit the decline in the numbers of their viewers.

    Report Post »  
  • Obamujahadeen
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:51pm

    O’Reilly jumped all over THAT too in the same manner, on that ‘statement’ and most I think knew right when they reported it she only meant ‘they had the right person’ because the police were just trying to ID who owned that white car and what not, and she replied “yea you have the right person” it wasn’t implying “oh I knew this day was coming, yea it’s HIM”…not to defend HIM, but her since we KNOW ABsleaze blows the big O.

    even though I can’t believe this guy became so unhinged so behind closed doors as is being reported. It didn‘t happen overnight unless all this zombie stuff is some government ’drug’ or something gone awry all of a sudden, who really knows.

    People more and more realize they don‘t wanna be blamed for ’not turning him in’ like the people in the Ft Hood case where they complained all day long and brass did nothing because of PC. People are afraid to ‘accuse’ someone of acting nutty for fear they‘ll be attacked for attacking the ’poor little mental case’….

    Report Post » Obamujahadeen  
    • rosegrower
      Posted on July 24, 2012 at 11:53am

      Or worse, the people around him knew he was a little off but didn’t want to be “judgmental” and failed to alert someone of his deteriorated mental state. This is Colorado, after all, the home of a number of past-it ’60s dope-smoking hippies and their grandchildren.

      Report Post »  
  • momrules
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:50pm

    I despise the distortions and outright lies in what passes as news in this day and in this age. There is no honor remainingin the liberal, proObama, antiConsevrative media.

    They do not care who gets hurt, how their lies can affect the people or legal cases involved and they should never be taken seriously again.

    Report Post »  
    • GENEPAGLIARI
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:20pm

      Despite having read her comment on Day 1, we perfectly understood her statement, even though there was no inflection or facial expression because we read it rather than heard it.

      On another note, we believe that not only ABC, but anyone with a broadcast license is obligated by that license to be asaccurate as is humanly possible. Otherwise said certificate can be revoked. Maybe those standards have been waived under the O-BLAME-O reign.

      Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:23pm

      Right.. left.. There’s no difference anymore. They‘re all owned by the same few people and they’re all pushing for global socialism.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • Wyatt's Torch
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:44pm

    Surely ABC‘s George Stuffinenvelopes and company couldn’t have goofed again. Trading fast for facts and intellectual sloth for investigative research….welcome to the brave new world of information junk food!

    Report Post » Wyatt's Torch  
    • Restored One
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:13pm

      I am not much for lawyering up, but I think that Mrs Holmes and Mr James Holmes ( Tea Party member) should get ABC for deflamation of character. What ABC reported about her comment could definately be used by the defense supporting an insanity plea and she will have to take the stand to defend it, thus putting her in a difficult position for her son. Don’t get me wrong, the freak deserves a firing squad!

      What a mess. I hope that Georgies puffy eyed, foul mouth wife can support them, because he and Ross should be taken down.

      Report Post »  
    • Eaglesnest
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:39pm

      stuffinenvelopes, LOL!

      Report Post » Eaglesnest  
    • lulubi100
      Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:35pm

      George Stuffinenvelopes, HA! The mainstream media = total joke

      Report Post »  
  • wing_n_it
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:43pm

    Of course she was referring to herself. I thought that was the case the first time I read it. ABC, like so many news organizations, aim to be sensational and first instead of accurate. If their agenda can be served it is turbo charged.

    Report Post »  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:40pm

    …

    ABC

    A – All
    B – Bull
    C – Crap

    Report Post »  
  • OlefromMN
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:38pm

    Don’t reporters use recorders any longer? You know, so they can verify facts as opposed to thinking they heard something else? ABC has vacated itself from any membership in the “stations that report facts” club it may have held. It purely is a network to promote an agenda. Pull the “news” division from ABC. Let them stick to sitcoms.

    Report Post » OlefromMN  
  • The Mommy Psychologist
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:28pm

    As a child psychologist and a mom, I can‘t help but think about James Holmes’ mother. Did she help create a monster or was she just as loving to her son as I am to mine. I’ve been asking readers: What would you do if you were James Holmes mother? I’d love to know your response:

    http://www.themommypsychologist.com/2012/07/23/what-if-you-were-the-mother-of-james-holmes/

    Report Post »  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:44pm

      @The Mommy Psychologist

      Welcome; thanks for signing up today and posting your link. I’ll be reading it in a bit.

      I’ve been asking the same question after seeing the Father at the airport. The look on his face spoke volumes.

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • OlefromMN
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:59pm

      I am a father, so I will speak from that standpoint. My wife and I agreed from birth that we would do everything in our power to promote “well rounded” children, meaning we would promote and stress the importance of no only scholastic standards, but also in social standards. We want our kids involved in the community through friendships, sports teams, and church . I have concerns that the shooter was not involved in anything other than scholastic endeavors. Sure he may have excelled at that but wound up with a great disconnect in the other areas. That should have been seen by the parents. I would be concerned if my daughters had not dated at age 24. We don’t even have a mention that this kid even went to prom.

      I do not hold the parents at fault, but they did miss an opportunity to correct it through early action.

      Report Post » OlefromMN  
    • netjet
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 10:57pm

      I have to say that I am stunned by the insensitivity of some of the posts on this site. You know absolutely nothing about the parents, or how they raised their son, yet you dare to judge. As someone who is a parent to three wonderful children that were given equal opportunity and experience, were loved beyond comprehension, and supported by a loving set of parents, I take umbrage with your comments that somehow these parents missed an opportunity and are therefore at fault. Our oldest son has been diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder. I can assure you that his mother and I are not at fault in his upbringing. We have another son and daughter, both married, graduated from college, and successful. Mental illness is not the fault of the parent, or the affected person.

      I am not excusing the behavior of the young Mr. Holmes, but to insinuate that the parents had something to do with it is beyond the pale. Walk a mile in thier shoes and you may sing a different tune. At 24 years old, they had absolutely no control over their son. The system does not support families of children with mental illness. They were and are powerless.

      The more important question should be,…how can we recognize the early signs of mental illness. Doing so would not only prevent tragedies such as this, but would prevent the smaller, but equally painful, incidents that parents of mentally ill children deal with every day.

      I certainly hope your smug answer at least made you feel better.

      Report Post » netjet  
  • dublinthewagons
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:26pm

    Abc gets their stories and employees out of the toilet.
    Pull it out of the toilet. Throw it against the wall. If it sticks hire them and or run the story.
    Some good lawyers need to sue them until hell looks to be a foot higher than ABC..

    Report Post »  
  • grams09
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:26pm

    I no longer read MSNBC on line because of their editing process, so I guess I’ll have to add ABC to the list now. ADIOS.

    Report Post » grams09  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:25pm

    ‘Reporters’ and ethics simply don’t go together,they’ll lie cheat and steal for ratings.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
  • moonsbreath
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:25pm

    Email ABC News and complain. If they can’t get anything right in regards to this event, they shouldn’t be on the air.

    Report Post » moonsbreath  
  • helicop
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:25pm

    No, I don’t support ABC, or as I like to refer to it, the All Barack Channel.

    Report Post »  
  • justangry
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:19pm

    Welcome to the Mickey Mouse club of reporting.

    Report Post » justangry  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:34pm

      JUSTANGRY, You are dead on with that assessment. Had I known that the reporting of that statement come from ABC, I would definitely have been more skeptical. Still, I should have remembered that the onset of reporting at any emergency situation that journalism is dead, especially investigative journalism, so most of the early reports are about 90% BS anyway.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
  • joejmz
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:19pm

    Still trust!? Heck, I haven’t trusted ABC News for a few decades now.

    Report Post » joejmz  
  • bankerpapaw
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:18pm

    ABC doesn’t report anymore. They make their liberal crap up. Brian Ross is like the rest. He’s only
    sorry because he got caught. Investigative Reporter- – - – What a joke!!!

    Report Post »  
  • kitchenjoe
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:18pm

    I read that original story and wondered why she would say that. It seems to me, that the major news outlets are in such desparate situations for ratings, that they will say anything to get a headline. Instead they are becoming the headline, “Incompitent”.

    Report Post » kitchenjoe  
  • VoteRightDammit
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:17pm

    “Do you still trust ABC?”

    >>>>>>>> WHY WOULD ANYONE START TRUSTING ABC AT THIS POINT IN TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY — AGAIN — INCORRECTLY REPORTED A STORY?

    We learned all we needed to know about ABC, et. al., from their trashing of Bush Jr. in the 2008 election.

    Report Post » VoteRightDammit  
  • AvengerK
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:17pm

    I trust ABC as much as I trust Obama’s “compressed” girlfriend in the book Bill Ayers’ wrote for him.
    For the stupid lefties who infest this site..that means..I DON”T TRUST ABC.

    I would like any of the gaggle of lefty idiots that infest this site..JROOK, JZS, ENCINOM/MONICNE/SLEAZY HIPPO..whoever…to answer a question for me. Why was it ABC‘s Brian Ross’ first instinct to look up Tea Party rolls in Colorado for any one with the same name as the shooter?
    There is no evidence of this kind of behaviour from the tea parties. None.. The Loughner incident should have been a teachable moment to the drive-by media..but no..apparently Brian Ross still wants to pin something to the tea parties. Why was this shooting so overtly politicized by lefty media hack Brian Ross?
    Any lefties care to eleborate? This should be a hoot.

    Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:32pm

      AVEN: And the Black militia outfit worn in this incident and the ties to Bat Man / Joker movie theme would have led one to look to the Far Left / Black Bloc / OWS for ties. BUT we know that the Media is Occupied by the international Lefties who use the media to propagandize . Tell Lies. Repeat them. Assassinate reputations with allegations. Repeat them. Now they are trying to destroy Romney like they tried to destroy the Tea Party ..like they tried to destroy Scott Walker…etc. Bullies and thugs and liars / AKA today’s Democrats ! JFK must be twirling.

      Report Post »  
    • John Valentine
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:40pm

      Barber2 nobody’s destroyed the TEA Party, evidence this November.

      Report Post »  
    • barber2
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:59pm

      JOHN : I did say “ tried to destroy”…..the Left is always trying to destroy ! That’s their thing which is what they share with all of the destructive wackos of the Left !

      Report Post »  
    • justangry
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 7:17pm

      @John, Why do you think the founder of the Tea Party will get the nod in August? LMAO Tea Party and Romney. That‘s the biggest friggin joke I’ve heard all day. Thanks for the laugh.

      Report Post » justangry  
  • olddog
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:14pm

    So even after ABC says shooter was a Tea Party person, then they go ahead and misquote the mother..What kind of crap rag is abc? Sorry you‘ll have to tell me because I’ve never watched abc…

    Report Post » olddog  
    • Too_Far_Gone
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:20pm

      “What kind of crap rag is abc?”

      The kind you clean a toilet with ..

      Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:53pm

      @Too_Far_Gone

      I tried to clean my toilet once with an ABC rag….. the toilet was dirtier afterwards and it tried to bite my a$$ the next next time I sat on it. : (

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • PutMoreOnMyPlate
      Posted on July 23, 2012 at 9:47pm

      @monk

      A$$
      Biter
      Cleaner

      Report Post » PutMoreOnMyPlate  
    • Zipit
      Posted on July 24, 2012 at 10:30am

      MONK! I recommend eight glasses of water, two bloodie Mary’s, a healthy serving of asparagus, “sautéed in butter and garlick of course” and a prolonged aerial attack on the filthy bowl! Should do the trick!!! Vinegar and horseradish optional, but advised…

      Report Post »  
  • SocialistSlayer
    Posted on July 23, 2012 at 6:13pm

    ABC – Anything But Correct ! Mainstream news is so washed up! Add them all together and they still don’t equal a reporter!

    Report Post » SocialistSlayer  
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